Esure Group Share News (ESUR)

LONDON (Alliance News) - The following stocks are the leading risers and fallers within the main London indices on Thursday.----------FTSE 100 - WINNERS----------Glencore, up 1.4%. The miner said first-quarter production was in line with expectations across all its commodities as it held firm to its 2018 guidance. For the three months ended March, copper production was up 6.6% to 345,400 tonnes from 324,100 tonnes the year prior. Nickel production was up 21% to 30,100 tonnes from 25,000 tonnes the year before. Glencore said production was "largely" in line with expectations across all its commodity groups. As a result, it retained its full year production guidance. For 2018, Glencore said it expects copper production of around 1.5 million tonnes, nickel production of 132,000 tonnes, zinc production of 1.1 million tonnes, and ferrochrome production of 1.6 million tonnes. Oil production is forecast at 4.9 million barrels and coal production around 134 million tonnes.----------FTSE 100 - LOSERS----------Smith & Nephew, down 7.0%. The medical devices maker lowered its full-year underlying revenue guidance after its businesses delivered a "mixed performance" in the first quarter of the year. The group said its full-year guidance has been hit by the "weaker" first quarter, with underlying revenue growth now expected to be in the range 2% to 3% with a trading profit margin "at or above" that achieved in 2017. Smith & Nephew said first quarter revenue rose 5% to USD1.20 billion, from USD1.14 billion, though this was flat on an underlying basis. There was one fewer trading day than the comparable period last year, Smith & Nephew noted.Mondi, down 5.8%, Kingfisher, down 3.1%, Unilever, down 1.0%. The stocks went ex-dividend meaning new buyers no longer qualify for the latest dividend payout. BT Group, down 2.5%. Barclays cut the telecommunications giant to Equal Weight from Overweight. BT will report annual results next Thursday. Direct Line, 1.3%. The insurer was downgraded to Neutral from Overweight by JPMorgan. ----------FTSE 250 - WINNERS----------Lancashire Holdings, up 4.0%. The insurer said a "strong" underwriting result and a relatively benign loss quarter led to a 48% jump in first quarter pretax profit. For the three months to March-end, the Bermuda-based insurer reported a pretax profit of USD42.4 million, up from USD28.7 million recorded in the year ago period. Gross premiums grew to USD215.8 million from USD196.5 million. Combined ratio - a key profit measure for insurers - stood at 65.2% at the period end versus 85.6% a year ago. A score under 100% indicates underwriting profitability.esure Group, up 2.5%. The insurer reported 18% growth in first-quarter gross premiums and said the so-called "The Beast from the East" cold snap and "Storm Emma" resulted in GBP8 million of claims costs in its home insurance division, around GBP6 million ahead of expectations. The company recorded total gross premiums of GBP221.2 million for the three months to March-end, up from GBP187.4 million in the year ago period. In-force policies grew 9.2% to 2.4 million from 2.2 million. The growth in premiums was attributed to strong performance in Motor division, which saw 21.1% growth in quarterly premiums to GBP201.4 million. Home unit recorded premiums of GBP19.8 million, down 6.2%.Wizz Air, up 2.0%. The eastern Europe-focused airline said passenger numbers and load factor improved in April, and separately announced subsidiary Wizz Air UK has been granted an Air Operator's Certificate and Operating Licence. During April passenger numbers rose 19% to 2.8 million, from 2.3 million a year before. Load factor improved by 0.8 percentage point to 90.9% from 90.1% last year. Capacity rose 18% to 3.0 million in April from 2.6 million. Separately, the airline said its wholly-owned subsidiary Wizz Air UK has been granted an Air Operator's Certificate and Operating Licence from the UK Civil Aviation Authority. Wizz Air UK - headquartered at London Luton airport - will begin operations on Thursday, with the first flight between London Luton and Bucharest. ----------FTSE 250 - LOSERS----------Go-Ahead, down 7.5%. Deutsche Bank downgraded bus and train operator to Hold from Buy, believing the stock is no longer "significantly undervalued" with its share price having risen of recent.IMI, down 3.7%. The engineer said continuation of improved trading performance has led a 2% year-on-year rise in first quarter organic revenue and current business performance remains consistent with market views for the year. IMI also said organic revenue for the first half is expected to be higher than the year ago period, with a modest improvement in margins. However, IMI expects its 2018 results to be hurt by the strength of sterling against the euro and the US dollar. At first quarter average rates, the company expects a 4% exchange rate headwind to both revenue and profit for the full year.Derwent London, down 3.7%, Elementis, down 2.1%. The stocks went ex-dividend. ----------